MAC Press Release No. 027
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced the results of a routine public opinion survey today (October 27, 2022). On Taiwan-related proposals in the CCP's “20th National Congress” report, about 90% of the public are strongly opposed to the CCP's declaration that it will never renounce the use of force (85.6%) and disapprove of the CCP's saber-rattling against Taiwan (91.6%). Over 80% of the public disapprove of mainland China's so-called "overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan issue" (83.9%) and the position of adhering to the "1992 Consensus" under the "one China" principle (82.3%). A similar percentage oppose the claim that "peaceful unification and one country, two systems" is the best way to achieve unification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait (79.3%). The MAC emphasized that the survey indicates that public opinion in Taiwan resolutely opposes the political framework and cross-Strait endgame imposed by the CCP and deeply resents military intimidation.
The MAC emphasized that the mainstream public supports the government's cross-Strait policy position. Nearly 90% of the public support the government's approach of continuing to enhance our self-defense capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and Taiwan's democracy (89.7%). More than 80% support the President's National Day address appeal that armed confrontation is not an option for the two sides across the Taiwan Strait and only by respecting the commitment of the Taiwanese people to our sovereignty, democracy and freedom can there be a foundation for resuming constructive interactions across the Taiwan Strait (84.3%). A Similar percentage of the public approve of the government's position that provided there is rationality, equality, and mutual respect, we are willing to work with the Beijing authorities to find a mutually agreeable arrangement for upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait (88.9%); and support the positions on the “Four Resiliences” (80.7%) and "Four Commitments" (74.4%) to protect Taiwan.
The MAC indicated that more than 80% of the public approve of the government's adjustments to cross-Strait exchanges and personnel contacts in view of cross-Strait developments and balance between economy and pandemic prevention (82.9%). Over 70% support the government's approach of strengthening safety management for mainland Chinese coming to Taiwan in conjunction with adjustments to border controls (73.2%). Regarding other cross-Strait issues long observed by the MAC, the MAC indicated that the great majority of the public continue to believe that the mainland Chinese authorities’ attitude towards our government (78.2%) and people (61.3%) is unfriendly, advocate "maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense" (86.3%), and agree that Taiwan's future and the development of cross-Strait relations must be decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan (85%), maintaining a long-term stable trend.
The MAC emphasized that the Republic of China is a sovereign state and that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other is an objective fact. The "Four Commitments" is the greatest consensus and bottom line of Taiwanese society. The government firmly defends our national sovereignty, security, and democratic and free way of life. There is no room for compromise. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a shared responsibility of both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The MAC again called on the other side to face up to the cross-Strait reality and public opinion in Taiwan, abandon its old mindset of annexation and confrontation, and pragmatically resolve the differences with rationality, equality, and mutual respect.
The MAC commissioned the Election Study Center of National Chengchi University to conduct a telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in Taiwan from October 19 to 23, 2022. A total of 1,096 valid samples were obtained, with a sampling error of plus or minus 2.96% at a 95% level of confidence.